Fujiwara no Tokihira

Japanese: 藤原時平 - ふじわらのときひら

Year of death: April 4, 909 (April 26, 909)
Year of birth: Jogan 13 (871)
A nobleman in the early Heian period. The eldest son of Mototsune and Prince Hitoshiyasu (Prince Ninmyo), and also known as the Minister of the Imperial Court. Due to his father's prestige, he was given special treatment by Emperor Koko, and at the coming-of-age ceremony in 886, the Emperor himself performed the role of ceremonial crown. In November 890, at the age of 20, he became a councilor. However, when Mototsune died in January of the following year, Emperor Uda promoted Sugawara no Michizane to the position, and Tokihira's position became unstable. His acts of obedience, such as giving gifts to Michizane's eldest son Takami and presenting him with a jeweled sash when Michizane became councilor, are noticeable, suggesting the weakness of his position at this time. It was around this time that he fell in love with his uncle Kunitsune's wife and caused an incident by stealing her away (this is the subject of Tanizaki Junichiro's "Shosho Shigemoto's Mother"), which shows his impressionable and active side. He gradually gained political power thereafter, and in the Kanpei Goikai, which Emperor Uda gave to Emperor Daigo when he abdicated, he was described as "skilled in politics and the foremost minister." In 899, he became the Minister of the Left, and in 902, he promoted the so-called Engi Reforms, issuing various laws to reorganize and strengthen the Ritsuryo system, including the Shoen Reorganization Order. His political side can also be seen in the anecdote from Konjaku Monogatari, in which he conspired with Emperor Daigo and purposely dressed extravagantly, which resulted in the Emperor scolding him, and he admonished people for their extravagance. However, in 901, he demoted Michizane to Dazai Gonso, which later earned him a bad reputation, and even the Gukansho harshly criticized him, saying, "Tokihira was a scheming man with a hidden mind." His death at the young age of 39 is said to be the result of the vengeful spirit of Michizane, and his descendants also fell into the ranks of the provincial courtiers and disappeared. He was awarded the rank of Shoichii Daijo-daijin (Grand Minister of State). One of the tombs in Uji (Kowata, Uji City) is called Tokihirazuka, and is said to be Tokihira's grave.

(Takinami Sadako)

Source: Asahi Japanese Historical Biography: Asahi Shimbun Publications Inc. About Asahi Japanese Historical Biography

Japanese:

没年：延喜9.4.4(909.4.26)
生年：貞観13(871)
平安前期の公卿。基経と人康親王(仁明皇子)の娘の長男。本院大臣とも。父の威光で光孝天皇の殊遇を受け,仁和2(886)年の元服に際しては,天皇自ら加冠役を務めている。寛平2(890)年11月,20歳で参議となる。しかし翌年1月基経が没すると,宇多天皇は菅原道真を抜擢,時平の立場は不安定なものとなった。道真の長男高視に贈物をし,道真の参議就任に玉帯をプレゼントするなどの追従行為が目につくのは,この時期における立場の弱さを暗示する。叔父国経の妻に横恋慕し,これを奪うという事件を起こした(谷崎潤一郎の『少将滋幹の母』はこれを素材とする)のもこの前後のことで,多感で行動的な一面がうかがわれる。その後しだいに政治的な力量をつけ,宇多天皇が譲位に際して醍醐天皇に与えた『寛平御遺誡』にも「政治に熟し,又第一の臣たり」とある。昌泰2(899)年左大臣となり,延喜2(902)年には荘園整理令をはじめ律令制の再編強化のために諸法令を出すなど,いわゆる「延喜の治」を推進した。醍醐天皇と謀り,わざと華美な服装をして天皇からとがめられ,人々の奢侈を戒めたという逸話(『今昔物語』)にも,政治家の一面がみられる。しかし延喜1(901)年,道真を大宰権帥に左遷したことが,のちのち悪評を買い,『愚管抄』でさえ,「時平コソカク心モアシケレ」と酷評している。39歳の若さで没したのも道真の怨霊のせいといわれ,その子孫も受領層に転落,消滅した。正一位太政大臣を贈られる。いま宇治陵(宇治市木幡)の中のひとつに時平塚と呼ばれるものがあり,時平の墓との伝承を持つ。

(瀧浪貞子)

出典　朝日日本歴史人物事典：（株）朝日新聞出版朝日日本歴史人物事典について　情報

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